Did he or didn’t he? That’s the question bugging the Blues board at Stamford Bridge following reports of a “secret PSG meeting” between Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and officials from the French giants.
Citing Belgian TV station RTBF, The Sun says that the 25-year-old gloveman and his father, Thierry, allegedly met PSG representatives on Monday for “informal talks”.
The discussions are said to have taken place in London and to have lasted for two hours.
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Courtois’ agent has dismissed the claims, insisting the talks never took place. “I have never heard of that meeting,” said Christophe Henrotay. “If any club is interested, they know what they have to do - find a deal with Chelsea and then talk to me to check my client interest.”
In a dig at the Belgian broadcaster, Henrotay added: “RTBF is a small TV channel in Belgium and sometimes they like a little thrill to keep them alive. But their information is not correct.”
Nonetheless, The Sun says that the planned talks between Chelsea and Courtois over a new contract have been “shelved until the summer”, and there is growing speculation that he might not be back at the Bridge next season.
Courtis has been linked principally to Real Madrid until now, but the interest of Paris Saint-Germain is said to be genuine and may hinge on the outcome of next Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 return leg.
The French outfit trail Real Madrid 3-1, and should PSG once again fail to make it through to the business end of the tournament, there is expected to be a mass overhaul of the squad in the summer.
It may come down to which club is prepared to bid the most, with The Sun claiming that Real are ready to offer Chelsea £50m in return for the Belgian’s hand.
